Money in the Wrong Places? Cristobal, OC Carousel, OL Penalties & NIL Reality

[TboneJones]

At some point we have to stop pretending the “massive contract + big-name savior” model still works in modern college football. NIL fundamentally changed the game. Success now comes from resource allocation across roster, staff, and systems — not betting everything on one head coach and hoping branding carries the rest.


And after today’s 26–20 OT loss to SMU, it feels like Mario Cristobal may have officially lost a big chunk of the fanbase. Fans were patient. They bought into the vision. But patience runs out when the results never match the investment.


Let’s be honest about the issues:

• Cristobal has cycled through multiple OCs, yet the offense still feels stagnant, predictable, and not aligned with the strengths of a QB like Carson Beck.
• His calling card — the offensive line — continues to pile up drive-killing mental-error penalties. That’s not talent. That’s discipline and coaching.
• And the trend that really matters: Cristobal is now 4–11 in November and December. Elite programs get stronger when the games matter most — we fade.

And as painful as it is to say, Cristobal’s long-term deal isn’t that different from LSU’s now-disastrous contract with Brian Kelly. They bet big on a name, structure, and philosophy that fit a pre-NIL era. LSU cut ties. They didn’t cling to a sinking model.


If Miami reaches that point — and we may be closer than many thought — the next hire cannot repeat this formula.


What Miami should prioritize going forward:
- A proven coach who can maximize what he has, not just recruit stars
- A modern offensive identity that fits personnel and evolves
- Coordinators who stick, not a revolving door
- Discipline and development, especially in the trenches
- A strategic NIL plan tied to roster construction and retention


It can’t be about nostalgia, hype, or emotional hires anymore. The model has changed. The sport has changed. If Miami is serious about getting back, we have to change with it.


Cristobal may still turn it around — but after today, a lot of people aren’t convinced. And if this is the pivot point, then the lesson needs to be clear:


Stop building programs around one name. Start building programs around sustainable football economics, modern strategy, and disciplined execution.

 

[Hurricane23]

Mario lost a lot of fans today, I think something will change sooner than we think

 

[TboneJones]

No doubt — today felt like a turning point. It’s not just a bad loss, it’s the pattern that broke a lot of people. Multiple years of portal spending, staff turnover, and “culture building” and we still collapse late, still lack offensive identity, and still look undisciplined in big moments.


You can only ask a fanbase to be patient for so long when the investment is this massive and the results look this familiar.


I agree — if this trajectory doesn’t shift fast, change may come sooner than most expected. At some point the program has to evolve, whether that’s Mario adapting in a big way or the administration making a hard decision.


This isn’t about emotion — it’s about results and the direction of the program. Today just made that impossible to ignore.

 

[TboneJones]

There’s always risk, no matter who you hire. But that’s why tying your entire program to a massive, long-term deal before seeing proof of concept in the NIL/portal era is the outdated part.
Look at the coaching cycle Mario came in with:

Mario Cristobal

Lincoln Riley

Brian Kelly

All three got huge contracts, all three were sold as culture-changing, program-saving names… and all three are now struggling to adjust to the NIL + transfer era. That’s not coincidence — it’s a sign the old playbook doesn’t work anymore.

The game has shifted from “hire the brand name and let him build” to build the ecosystem first:

Modern scheme + roster philosophy

NIL alignment and retention strategy

Coordinators who fit and stay

Development + discipline baked into the system

You don’t have to race to pay $9M+ just because someone once thrived in a pre-NIL world. What worked for Saban in 2010 doesn’t automatically work in 2024.

The lesson isn’t “go cheap.”

It’s don’t mortgage your program on a brand name when the sport just changed the rules.
Find the next elite architect, not try to recreate one from the past.
Miami needs to play the new game — not nostalgia ball.

 

[hurricaneman]

Mario lost a lot of fans today, I think something will change sooner than we think

Honestly, I think he needs to part ways with Dawson and he needs to give up any control he may have over any aspect of this team outside of recruiting. That's the only way this works.

His entire philosophy on offense is so f***ing flawed.

 

[Hurricane23]

Honestly, I think he needs to part ways with Dawson and he needs to give up any control he may have over any aspect of this team outside of recruiting. That's the only way this works.

His entire philosophy on offense is so f***ing flawed.

I agree with everything you said here

 

[TboneJones]

Honestly, I think he needs to part ways with Dawson and he needs to give up any control he may have over any aspect of this team outside of recruiting. That's the only way this works.

His entire philosophy on offense is so f***ing flawed.

How many OC hires will you allow Mario to make before looking at the commonality in everything going wrong in the program, Mario?

 

[hurricaneman]

How many OC hires will you allow Mario to make before looking at the commonality in everything going wrong in the program, Mario?

Mario isn't getting fired. So what do you do? If this is Dawson's offense, and Cristobal isn't limiting him, then I think he needs to go. They struck gold with Cam last year but everything outside of Cam has been extremely hit or miss. The offense does not showcase playmakers. It is constantly trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

Now, if Mario is messing with the offense then the team is f***ed if he won't let go. He doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[TheATLCane]

Cristobal isn't limiting him

That can't be true. Our offense looks more similar to Mario's old teams than Dawson's

 

[Odin]

No doubt — today felt like a turning point. It’s not just a bad loss, it’s the pattern that broke a lot of people. Multiple years of portal spending, staff turnover, and “culture building” and we still collapse late, still lack offensive identity, and still look undisciplined in big moments.


You can only ask a fanbase to be patient for so long when the investment is this massive and the results look this familiar.


I agree — if this trajectory doesn’t shift fast, change may come sooner than most expected. At some point the program has to evolve, whether that’s Mario adapting in a big way or the administration making a hard decision.


This isn’t about emotion — it’s about results and the direction of the program. Today just made that impossible to ignore.

I want to see if Mario is done or will still bring up how bare things were when he got here,much worse than he thought.At some point that can't be used again.

 

[Ispyin]

Mario lost a lot of fans today, I think something will change sooner than we think

I think the first part of what you said is completely right and I think you’re completely delusionally wrong on the second part

 

[TboneJones]

Mario isn't getting fired. So what do you do? If this is Dawson's offense, and Cristobal isn't limiting him, then I think he needs to go. They struck gold with Cam last year but everything outside of Cam has been extremely hit or miss. The offense does not showcase playmakers. It is constantly trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

Now, if Mario is messing with the offense then the team is f***ed if he won't let go. He doesn't know what he's doing.

Right — Mario isn’t getting fired right now, so the only question is how he adjusts. If this team loses 2-3 more games do you think Mario is still bulletproof?

 

[hurricaneman]

Right — Mario isn’t getting fired right now, so the only question is how he adjusts. If this team loses 2-3 more games do you think Mario is still bulletproof?

He's not getting fired after this season. Like, that is an impossibility.

 

[TboneJones]

He's not getting fired after this season. Like, that is an impossibility.

Impossible?

 

[YLCANE]

At some point we have to stop pretending the “massive contract + big-name savior” model still works in modern college football. NIL fundamentally changed the game. Success now comes from resource allocation across roster, staff, and systems — not betting everything on one head coach and hoping branding carries the rest.


And after today’s 26–20 OT loss to SMU, it feels like Mario Cristobal may have officially lost a big chunk of the fanbase. Fans were patient. They bought into the vision. But patience runs out when the results never match the investment.


Let’s be honest about the issues:

• Cristobal has cycled through multiple OCs, yet the offense still feels stagnant, predictable, and not aligned with the strengths of a QB like Carson Beck.
• His calling card — the offensive line — continues to pile up drive-killing mental-error penalties. That’s not talent. That’s discipline and coaching.
• And the trend that really matters: Cristobal is now 4–11 in November and December. Elite programs get stronger when the games matter most — we fade.

And as painful as it is to say, Cristobal’s long-term deal isn’t that different from LSU’s now-disastrous contract with Brian Kelly. They bet big on a name, structure, and philosophy that fit a pre-NIL era. LSU cut ties. They didn’t cling to a sinking model.


If Miami reaches that point — and we may be closer than many thought — the next hire cannot repeat this formula.


What Miami should prioritize going forward:
- A proven coach who can maximize what he has, not just recruit stars
- A modern offensive identity that fits personnel and evolves
- Coordinators who stick, not a revolving door
- Discipline and development, especially in the trenches
- A strategic NIL plan tied to roster construction and retention


It can’t be about nostalgia, hype, or emotional hires anymore. The model has changed. The sport has changed. If Miami is serious about getting back, we have to change with it.


Cristobal may still turn it around — but after today, a lot of people aren’t convinced. And if this is the pivot point, then the lesson needs to be clear:


Stop building programs around one name. Start building programs around sustainable football economics, modern strategy, and disciplined execution.

Today was the tipping point
I have felt this way before w the prior coaches and I’ve been right….
He will not recover
This was an embarrassment and I believe we have more coming that will make the decision easy for those who have to make it!

 

[TboneJones]

Today was the tipping point
I have felt this way before w the prior coaches and I’ve been right….
He will not recover
This was an embarrassment and I believe we have more coming that will make the decision easy for those who have to make it!

We're on the same frequency. I've seen this situations like this before. Many think Mario won't get fired. Some even think this team will win 10 games. I think this team will lose at least 2 more games. The SMU game was important for many reasons:

It was a conference game
Can Mario get the team to focus after losing a game they shouldn't have lost to Louisville?
SMU was a playoff team last season
SMU's coach is a former Miami OC
SMU's coach prioritizes Miami guys in the portal
The monetary investment in Mario and the program would be at the top of the SEC

Mario failed. I agree he won't recover.